2Cor 1:23, 2:1 | JFB | STEP | 23. Moreover I — Greek, "But I (for my part)," in contrast to GOD who hath assured us of His promises being hereafter fulfilled certainly ( ). call God —the all-knowing One, who avenges wilful unfaithfulness to promises. for a record upon my soul —As a witness as to the secret purposes of my soul, and a witness against it, if I lie ( ). to spare you —in order not to come in a rebuking spirit, as I should have had to come to you, if I had come then. I came not as yet — Greek, "no longer"; that is, I gave up my purpose of then visiting Corinth. He wished to give them time for repentance, that he might not have to use severity towards them. Hence he sent Titus before him. Compare , which shows that his detractors represented him as threatening what he had not courage to perform ( ).

2 Corinthians 1:23

23. Moreover I—Greek, "But I (for my part)," in contrast to GOD who hath assured us of His promises being hereafter fulfilled certainly (2Co 1:20-22).

call God—the all-knowing One, who avenges wilful unfaithfulness to promises.

for a record upon my soul—As a witness as to the secret purposes of my soul, and a witness against it, if I lie (Mal 3:5).

to spare you—in order not to come in a rebuking spirit, as I should have had to come to you, if I had come then.

I came not as yet—Greek, "no longer"; that is, I gave up my purpose of then visiting Corinth. He wished to give them time for repentance, that he might not have to use severity towards them. Hence he sent Titus before him. Compare 2Co 10:10, 11, which shows that his detractors represented him as threatening what he had not courage to perform (1Co 4:18, 19).

2 Corinthians 2:1

1. with myself—in contrast to "you" (2Co 1:23). The same antithesis between Paul and them appears in 2Co 2:2.

not come again . . . in heaviness—"sorrow"; implying that he had already paid them one visit in sorrow since his coming for the first time to Corinth. At that visit he had warned them "he would not spare if he should come again" (see on 2Co 13:2; compare 2Co 12:14; 13:1). See Introduction to the first Epistle. The "in heaviness" implies mutual pain; they grieving him, and he them. Compare 2Co 2:2, "I make you sorry," and 2Co 2:5, "If any have caused grief (sorrow)." In this verse he accounts for having postponed his visit, following up 2Co 1:23.